Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Carr (20) leads Farris (92) and Mertens (53) in the National; Carr came from sixth on the first lap to finish second for the fourth time in 1986. By the fourth lap, Shobert almost had a econd and a half on the pack. Eklund and Mertens were a solid second and third, and on lap eight Mertens moved into econd. Cornwell held fourth until the last lap when heslipped off the grooveallowing Tom Maitland and Pete Hames to move past. The fourth, final, and faste t heat of the night belonged to Don Estepof Ohio. Estep's ( teel Masters/Smitty's/ Custom Cycle upply/Bob Williams/ H-D Motor Co.lArai/MJ U A/HiPoint/Castrol) fast time meant he would siton the pole for the final-it was the first time he ever accomplished that feat. Jay pringsteen held second in heat four with first George Roeder II, and later Carr, ittingin third. When Carr moved past Roeder on the sixth lap he quickly set his sights on and eventually passed Springer for econd. Carr got a wheel up on Estep on the final go-around, but couldn't make a pass. Doug Chandler moved around Roeder to finish fourth, with Roeder fifth. Semis Texter led Jones off the line in the first semi with Dan Ingram third and Roger Durkee fourth. Jones, who had switched back to a Carlisle rear tire because he was having trouble getting traction out of the comers, almost got under Texter in turn two, and made it tick in turns three and four. Texter passed him back on the third lap, Jones repas ed, but got pas ed again when his bike began running on one cylinder down the front straight. It cleared itself out, however, and Jones went by for the lead and the win. Texter held on for second with Miller third and Ingram fourth. The second semi saw the first false start of the night when three riders jumped, and the second semi also saw the first red flag. Roeder crashed, went to the wall and was hit by Tony Pitcock. Roeder was air-lifted to a nearby hospital for observation; his injuries were believed to be minor. On the restart, Chandler led Hames, Maitland and Terry Poovey. Poovey soon disposed of Maitland and on lap five the rains came. The race continued for two more laps, then was red-flagged and called complete with Chandler holding off Hames and Poovey. While track work was going on, riders u ed the time to change such things as tire grooving. Carr, for one, was happier with the track following the rain than before the rain. "It's a skidder race track and I hate 'em," Carr aid prior to the rain. Last Chance Qualifier The majority of the decent-sized crowd was still on hand when Poovey gra~bed the lead entering turn one in the LCQ. Winkie Frietas stepped off his Harley in turn one, however, and the red flag was thrown again. Poovey came off the line an unlucky fourth behind Tom Maitland, Texter and Ingram on the restart. Poovey got Ingram on the first lap and Texter on lap three when the second red flag came out; Ingram had crashed in turn one. The second restart was single file, but Poovey couldn't make a dent in Maitland's lead; the Michigan rider held on for the final transfer to the National. Junior National Junior point leader Bryan McDowell (Shoei/Bruce's Body Shop/Diamond/Kal-Gard/Uke's H-D/HiPoint/Ron McCabe Trenching/Ben's Backhoe S rvice/K&N/CastrollH-D Motor Co.) finished second to yearlong rival Bryan Villella in the second Junior heat race, but it was McDowell who led the final into turn one. Villella got out of the hole slowly, and was back in seventh at the end of the fust lap. Cambria Tool-sponsored Bob Farver, who ran away and hid in the first Junior heat race, was also way back in the pack. McDowell took advantage of his competition's bad starts, and shot to a huge lead over the field. On lap seven, two riders crashed hard on the back straight, and the red flag was brought out. With the event already getting close to the early morning hours, it was decided to call it a race. McDowell took the win with Canadian Scott Buchan second, Brian Bonsteel, on a Wood-Rotax borrowed from Chris Carr, third, Phil Vigneri fourth and Villella fifth. It was Mc• Dowell's eighth Junior National win of the year. National The 19-year-old Estep's glory was short-lived when he hit a wet patch in turn three, lost the front end, and crashed on the warm-up lap for the 25-lap ational. Estep was okay, but Team Honda's Shobert dominated every lap of the 25-lap National at. Hamburg's limestone oval; Shobert was fast on both a wet and dry track. the bike was bent and his crew was unable to get it ready in time for the start. When the green light flashed, it was hoben sliding the red, white and blue Honda into turn one with the lead. At the end of the fir t lap Shobert led Morehead, Farri , Mertens, Parker, Carr and Graham. Carr oon moved by Parker, then passed Merten to take over fourth on lap three. The Morehead/Shobert duel was on display out front, and hobert seemed to have things under control. On lap six Carr slid by Farris in turns three and four to take over third and promptly set out after Morehead. Mertens dropped out of contention when he drifted to the fence on the seventh go, and Farris wasn't letting Carr off the hook. By lap 10, hobert led Morehead, a Carr/Farris battle, and a Graham/Parker duel. The 12th lap saw Carr break free from Farris to attack Morehead. Shobert, meanwhile, had a second and a half on the duo. Carr made his move on the 14th lap, and the duo became a trio when Farris suddenly joined in. pringer had al a made a move to close within strikingdistanceof Graham and Parker. A good race was also shaping up between Pearson, Boody, Maitland, Jones and Chandler. No amount of effort could change the outcome, however, as Shobert took an easy win over Carr, Morehead held off Farris, and Graham got the better of Parker and Springsteen. "Those guys were just faster tonight," Morehead said. "After the rain I cut my tire pretty critical and you look at my tire and its ruined, it's gone - but I just out-tricked myself. I figured it would be a lot more of a marbley-type surface, but it got hard and black immediately." ..After the heat race we made a few changes because I was getting some rear wheel chatter going in," Shobert said. "We cut the tire more for a groove and in the heat race it was cut more for a cushion." • Results 25-LAP NATIONAL: 1. Bubba Shobert (Han): 2. Chris Carr (H-D): 3. Steve Morehead (H-D): 4. Rodney Farris (Han): 5. Ricky Graham (H-D): 6. Scott Bryan McDowell expanded his points lead with another win. Parker (H-D): 7. Jay Springsteen (ii-D): B. SCott Pearson (Han): 9. Ted Boodv (Han); 10. Tom Maitland (H-D); 11. Ronnie Jones (Han): 12. Doug Chandler (Han): 13. Steve Eklund (H-D); 14. Tim Mertens (Han); 15. Don Estep (Han). 7-LAP JUNIOR NATIONAL: 1. Bryan McDowell (ROt); 2. Scon Buchan (Rtx); 3. Brian Bonesteen (H-D); 4. Phil Vigneri (C-A): 5. Bryan .Villella (W-R); 6. Bob . .rver (W-R); 7. Bonald Bertrand (Rtx): B. Roger Bibeau (C-A); 9. Glen Hughson (Han): 10. Chance Darling; 11. Steven Duff IH~O); 12. Craig Estelle (H-D). AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP/ CAMEL PRO SERIES POINTSTANDINGS: 1. Bubba Shobert (193): 2. Chris Carr (149); 3. SCott Parker (14B): 4. Doug Chandler (115): 5. Ricky Graham (B7): 6. Ronnie Jones (77): 7. Ted Boody (751: B. Steve Morehead (67) 9. Pete Hames(64); 10. Steve Eklund (61): 11. Rodney Farris (53): 12. Randy Goss (51); 13. (TIE) Sammy Swaet/Scott Pearson (49): 15. Hank Scott (47): 16. Ale. Jorgensen (43): 17. Jay Springsteen (42); lB. Tom Maitland (32): 19. Tim Mertens (271: 20. Terry Poovey (24). JUNIOR NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Bryan McDowell (198): 2. Bryan Villella(158): 3. (TIE) Eric Sassaman/Ted Tavlor (77); 5. Curtis Cannon (58); 6. Brian Bonesteel (57); 7. (TIEl Frankie Garcia/Steve Duff (53); 9. Les Washbon (50): 10. Eric Graybeal (45). 7

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